Aggressive Drivers Are Often Competitive

A battery of questions
asked how often motorists got angry, were impatient, were competitive
or punished other drivers in driving situations. While almost all drivers
said they at least sometimes got angry when another car cut them off,
or felt impatient if they were behind schedule, there were some clear
differences in whether they engaged in competitive or vindictive actions.

Figure 1. Questionnaire Responses - General vs. Aggressive Drivers.

The most discriminating
question was how often participants compete with other cars in traffic
jams. Seventy-five percent of the participants in the aggressive driver
groups said they "always" or "often" compete while
none of the participants in the "general" groups compete that
frequently. Drivers in the aggressive group also said they more frequently
got angry when cut off, had passengers tell them to calm down, blocked
other cars trying to pass, and blocked cars trying to change lanes. One
woman called driving on the Beltway "A competitive sport." Aggressive
drivers spoke differently from the general drivers. Both groups blame
much of the unsafe driving on the Beltway on the "other driver."
General groups expressed dismay at specific unsafe driving maneuvers that
make them nervous on the Beltway -- the drivers who speed, change lanes
frequently, cut them off, and force their way ahead. Aggressive drivers,
on the other hand, blame those who are going too slow in the passing lane,
cars at the speed limit who "force" them to change lanes and
weave in and out of traffic. As one young woman phrased it, "Get
out of my way, please."

Aggressive drivers
also admitted to going much faster than the general groups -- at speeds
of 60-70 during non-peak hours. They think that is a safe speed and that
cars going 55 mph should be in the slow lanes. They speak of "Left
Lane Etiquette." One young man said "If I'm going 80 mph in
the fast lane and someone comes up behind me, I should move out of his
way." They think slower drivers are the problem.

Interestingly, the
aggressive drivers think there should be a minimum speed limit on the
Beltway and it should be 55 mph. The general groups thought a minimum
speed limit should be set at about 40 mph.

While the aggressive
drivers are moving at speed to get to their destination, they express
annoyance at other drivers who hinder their progress. Paradoxically, the
aggressive drivers will go out of their way to block another car trying
to pass or cut in front of them.